Stewarding Our Health
In 2015, our synod’s congregations received roughly $22,000 from Portico/ELCA in health premium discounts (2% from January 2015) because over 65% of possible participants completed
the Mayo Clinic health assessment. In addition to this congregational savings, our Central/
Southern Illinois Synod received roughly $11,000, an additional 1% saving. These dollars together with dollars received in previous years are to be used for Wholeness Wheel Health
Stewardship activities. We call them “Wellness Dollars”. Our goal is to share these Wellness
Dollars strategically to improve your stewardship of your health.
WHOLENESS WHEEL/GRANT CATEGORIES
Our approach grows out of the Wholeness Wheel.
The Wholeness Wheel illustrates that wellness is
multi-dimensional — made up of spiritual, vocational, intellectual, emotional, physical, social and financial dimensions of well-being. Spiritual wellbeing accompanies our well-being in all other dimensions. Please visit www.porticobenefits.org to
learn more about the Wholeness Wheel.
At the center of the wheel, we are a new creation
through the waters of baptism. Christ lives in us
and through us, and calls us out to love and serve
one another. What does it mean to be a new creation? We have received the gift of grace through
Christ, who came that we might have abundant life.
Abundant life is living as a new creation, being
grounded and centered in Christ and loving our
neighbor as ourselves. It is when we are living well
in Christ that we are best equipped to pass on our
faith.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A GRANT
Each person rostered in the C/SIS and serving as a non-retired, rostered leader in a part-time
or full-time call in the C/SIS is eligible for the grants defined below. Rostered leaders who fit
this description and who serve in the C/SIS do not have to be insured by Portico/ELCA Health
Insurance to be eligible for the grants. Spouses and children of these rostered leaders, except
for clergy couples, are not eligible for the grants.
Each person rostered in the C/SIS and on On-Leave-From-Call status is eligible for the grants
defined below, except for the grant for clergy renewal/sabbatical support. Rostered leaders
who fit this description and who serve in the C/SIS do not have to be insured by Portico/ELCA
Health Insurance to be eligible for the grants. Spouses and children of these rostered leaders,
except for clergy couples, are not eligible for the grants.
Paid, non-rostered staff members who serve in a congregation or in the synodical office within
the C/SIS and who have Portico/ELCA health insurance are eligible for the grants. Spouses,
and children of these insured staff members, even if insured by Portico/ELCA Health insurance
are not eligible for the grants.
Each rostered and non-rostered person indicated above is eligible for a grant of up to $2000 for
support of clergy renewal leave/sabbatical leave. This grant has two components: up to $1000
to the person as support for the person’s clergy renewal or sabbatical activities, and up to
$1000 to the congregation or synodical office to assist with providing for ministry during the
person on leave’s absence. For other than clergy renewal/sabbatical support, each rostered and
non-rostered person indicated above is eligible for a maximum of $200 in grants. A combination of grants may be used to reach the maximum.
Grant funds are limited. Applications will be considered in the order in which they are submitted.
The following forms for the most recent year must be submitted and on file for the rostered
leader and the rostered leader’s congregation before grants funds are paid:
♦
♦
Congregational Statistical Reports (Form A and C)
Rostered Leader Report to the Bishop
GRANT APPLICATIONS
Apply in one of the following categories.
Spiritual Well-Being Grant
Living a centered life focused on God affects each aspect of our well-being. Turn to God for strength as you
seek to live well in Christ. Nurture your relaonship
with God through prayer, devoons, worship, nature,
art, and music. Explore who you are and know whose
you are.
Social/Interpersonal Well-Being Grant
We are created by God to be social beings, living in
community and instructed to help and love each other.
We maintain social well-being through interacon, play
and forgiveness. Take me to nurture your relaonships with family, friends, congregaon and co-workers.
Emotional Well-Being Grant
Being emoonally well means feeling the full range of
human emoons and expressing them appropriately.
Self-awareness is the first step. Recognizing and honoring your own feelings and those of others — stress,
contentment, anger, love, sadness, joy, resentment —
will help you live life abundantly.
Physical Well-Being Grant
While we are not all born perfectly healthy or able to
live life without injury or illness, we can live well by
tending and nurturing our body as a gi, from God. Feed
it healthy foods, keep it hydrated, build physical endurance through regular exercise, and respect your body’s
need for rest.
Financial Well-Being Grant
Being financially well involves making decisions based
on our values, as reflected in the way we save, spend,
and share. Tending to one’s financial well-being in this
way requires us to be resilient, generous, and focused
on sustainability.
Vocational Well-Being Grant
We all have a calling — a vocaon — to follow Christ’s
example by living a life of meaning, purpose and service to our neighbor. Our vocaons make up our life’s
work and passions — they are the everyday roles
through which God calls us to help make this world a
be2er place. Those who are well vocaonally are faithful stewards of their talents and abilies, and find opportunies to build and use them.
Intellectual Well-Being Grant
Using our minds keeps us alert and acve. Stay curious,
ask quesons, and seek answers. Explore new responsibilies, experience new things and keep an open
mind. And remember, knowing when and how to let
your mind rest is as important as keeping acve.
Mail Applications to
Central/Southern Illinois Synod
524 South Fifth Street
Springfield IL 62701
Application Form
Stewarding Our Health
Name
E-mail Address
Physical Address
Telephone Number
Congregation/City
What grant category are you applying in?
Spiritual Well-Being Grant
You may be approved for the grant in advance of the event or activity, but you must
submit a receipt for reimbursement.
Social/Interpersonal Well-Being Grant
Example: couple or family participation in a Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center activity.
Emotional Well-Being Grant
Example: fees and expenses associated with approved programs designed to promote
healthy emotional processing in personal lives and congregational systems.
Physical Well-Being Grant
Examples: join a gym or fitness group and engage in 30 minutes of physical activity for
a minimum of 8 weeks; receive healthy diet tutoring.
Financial Well-Being Grant
Examples: create or update a will; receive budget tutoring; Portico retirement seminar.
Vocational Well-Being Grant
Examples: books or seminars serving vocational development, vocational discernment
resources.
Is this a clergy renewal/sabbatical support grant application? ___Yes ___No
Intellectual Well-Being Grant
Example: fees and expenses associated with continuing education events. You may be
approved for the grant in advance of the event or activity, but you must submit a receipt
for reimbursement.
What will the grant funding be used for and what is the cost? (Please be specific.)
What do you hope to accomplish with this grant? (Please be specific.)
Total Cost of Project:
$__________
Amount Requested:
$__________